Arktikum witnesses record visitors in 2016

The number of visitors at the Arktikum Museum and Arctic Science Centre hit a record last year.

More than 95,000 people visited the museum in 2016, with 60 per cent of them being foreigners, sources at the Arktikum said.

In 2015, the number of visitors was at around 91,000, that means 18,000 more than that in 2014, the sources said.

The steady rise of visitors at Arktikum reflects the increasing popularity of tourism in Lapland over the last few years.

In addition to existing exhibits on beautiful architecture, history and culture of Lapland and the Arctic region, Arktikum plans to add a number of new exhibits.

A huge influx of Asian tourists, particularly Chinese and Japanese, in addition to tourists from Europe has resulted in the increased number of foreign visitors as well the total number of visitors at Arktikum.

Besides, both the museum and the science centre provide introductions in different languages which the exhibits more accessible.

“When we planned to visit Rovaniemi, we aimed at witnessing the northern light, Santa Claus’ Village and the Arktikum Museum,” said a Chinese tourist, adding that, “but we were determined to visit Santa Claus Village and the Arktikum Museum, as the sighting of the northern lights depends on nature.”

A German tourist said the Arktikum Museum is one of the world’s famous museums, so when they make a trip to Rovaniemi, they generally visit it.

Arktikum provides information on Arctic issues and tells stories about Lapland. An Arktikum exhibition is an enormous information package on what’s going on today in the evolving Arctic region.

It also educates people about the Lappish history, culture and nature from Rovaniemi to the further reaches of Upper Lapland. Arktikum is a source of knowledge when travelling to the North.

The year 2017 is a jubilee year for Arktikum, since it opened to the public 25 years ago as part of the Finland’s 75th anniversary of independence.